city budget

Once again preventing park cuts and saving public safety jobs were the focus of many speakers during a Cincinnati Council hearing Monday night on the city’s budget.

There was a smaller crowd for the session at the College Hill Recreation Center, and about 30 speakers offered testimony.

About half of them are asking Council not to reduce funding for the parks department. The board that runs those facilities has threatened closures and reduced maintenance if the city manager’s budget is adopted.

Two Cincinnati Council Members are supporting a plan to eliminate all the proposed firefighter layoffs while reducing police officer layoffs to 25.

Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and Council Member Chris Seelbach announced the proposal Thursday.

“We will continue to look for additional savings that could reduce layoffs even further,” Qualls said in a press release. “We must preserve essential services that keep all of our neighborhoods safe and clean.”

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's budget plan released Wednesday reduces the number of police and fire department layoffs. But 53 firefighters and 49 police officers would still be out of work in early June.

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney Thursday presented his proposed budget for the new fiscal year that begins on July 1st. His plan included layoffs for 201 city employees, but that’s down from the 344 he first discussed last month.

Dohoney’s budget plan was given to Mayor Mark Mallory, who now has ten days to review it and make changes before sending it to City Council.

Proponents of Cincinnati’s plan to lease the operation of its parking meters and garages say it’s critical to solving the city’s budget problems. But opponents to the proposal say it’s a bad deal for the city and its residents.

Join us Thursday morning March 21 at 9:20, as we explore the details and possible outcomes of the parking lease proposal fight. You can send your questions or comments to impact@wvxu.org. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter. Impact Cincinnati, on 91.7, WVXU.

About 50 people offered testimony Thursday night during the first public hearing on Cincinnati’s proposed 2013 budget.

Council’s Budget and Finance Committee listened to the comments.

More than half of those speaking offered testimony supporting funding for Media Bridges. It operates cable public-access channels and has a small radio station. It also offers free media production classes to individuals and groups.

A city union will not oppose plans to privatize the operation of some Cincinnati parking facilities in exchange for pay raises and a pledge from the city not to layoff any bargaining unit employees for 3 years.

The specifics are detailed in a memorandum of understanding between the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

25 union members will lose their positions in the parking division, but they'll be transitioned to other city jobs.